Music has always been a part of my life -- now welcome to the journey. Just a little blog to reminisce, review, rant and rave about the music in my life. "Music is my mother and my father. It is my work and my rest,my blood, my compass, my love" ~Jeff Buckley

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

I will never forget the moment I first heard Jeff Buckley's sweet yet complex voice in Sydney. From that moment on, I searched for all of his music, eventually stumbling upon his father's. I am sure that statement would make him haunt my dreams again - but Jeff, it's true for so many. And besides, your father's music played the role of being the soundtrack to the very first roadtrip I took with the man who is now my husband. You have played such an important part of my life.

When I heard that a "bio-pic" of Jeff and his father was being filmed, I was so skeptical. I am not usually a fan of bio pics. Also, what possible story could you tell about a man who didn't really know his famous father?

A little background for those who are not familiar. Tim Buckley was a musician who rose to fame in the 60s. You can try and classify him as folk, but his influences showed in his later works - funk, psychedelic and rock. He made nine studio albums and other live recordings -- all before he died at the age of 28. In 1966, at the age of 19 his son Jeff was born but he rarely saw him, as he and Jeff's mother divorced.

Fast forward to 1991. You're the son of famous singer and someone asks you to perform at a memorial concert in honor of a father you've met twice. You don't sing his songs but you bear an uncanny resemblance to him. Curiosity, doing the right thing, uncertainty - who knows what Jeff must have been thinking.

That is where the director Daniel Algrant gets involved. Because Jeff sadly passed in 1997, there was no recantation of the event or what feelings were behind the performance. So, how do you take the story of a very famous son who is conflicted about his father's legacy and make it believable?

In the summer of 2012, signs for filming went up for Greetings FromTim Buckley at St. Ann's Church. Wow, I thought, this must be about the Tim Buckley memorial as well. Ok, I was starting to give the movie a chance. I began to research Penn Badgley, the actor made famous from Gossip Girls, who was picked to play the role. I was a little dismayed - I just could not see it happening to appease so many loyal fans.

The chance to see the premiere of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival - would not be missed. I chatted with some people in the crowd. Some where Penn Badgley fans, others Jeff fans. I waited and wondered how I would walk out of their feeling since I walked in a skeptic.

St. Anns Church Today

If you weren't a Tim Buckley fan before the film, chances are you will be when you leave the theatre. The story of Jeff and his father is told beautifully and cleverly through the Memorial Concert at St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn. The invitation to play of course stirs emotion in Jeff, but that emotion is played through flashbacks of his famous father's start in music.

Eveything but the concert itself is semi fiction, a genius way of telling what Jeff must have gone through preparing to play the concert. The story is woven between 1991 and 1966 without seeming too wrought with flashbacks. Most of the music is Tim Buckley, except for two scenes: One that involves Tim watching Charles Mingus perform in the village following a night of his own performance at Cafe Wha? The second is the ending when Jeff (actually Penn) sings Lilac Wine ( a song Jeff used on his debut album, Grace).

As Jeff struggles with the memory of a father who was absent most of his life, Tim struggles with being s lost soul in a seemingly loveless marriage. The buildup to the concert is essentially taking the viewer to the point where Jeff Buckley became a blip on the radar. When people recognized that he wasn't Tim Buckley's son, but that he was Jeff Buckley happened that day in 1991 in that church. Jeff walked out of his father's shadow.

I said I was doubtful about anyone playing Jeff. Penn Badgley proved me wrong. He captured the essence of Jeff between the quirkiness, the mannerisms that were uncanny and the way he was able to turn his voice into the instrument that Jeff had. I was able to ask Penn,Daniel, and Anthrax's Frank Bello if they studied the photographs of Jeff that Merri Cyr had taken over the years that she worked with him. They both said they had seen some of her pictures but didn't focus on mimicing. It truly was as if they had taken her photographs and brought them to life.

The highlight for all was listening to an audience member state the following: I knew Jeff and I knew Tim and I was at the concert. He went onto say how he appreciated the liberties that they had taken with the film because it told the story beautifully.

For me, as a fan who knows the Jeff and Tim story,and knows who all the characters were, it was a surprisingly great film. For those who don't know the ins and outs and back story, I would be curious as to what they thought. Is it necessary to know who Gary Lucas is and how important he would become in Jeff's life?

Jeff and his father deserved to have a film this beautiful, musical and honestly told. Walking out of the theatre, I began to think that this was probably the longest that Jeff and Tim had ever spent together.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Have you ever had the chance to celebrate your heroes? I was given the wonderful opportunity to celebrate the work of Sting and his wife Trudie at the We Are Family Foundation Honors Gala. The foundation is based on the premise that we are all in this together, as its mission statement reads: Its mission is dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate people about mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation of cultural diversity – while striving to solve some of our biggest global problems at the same time.The foundation encourages and empowers those who want to, for lack of a better phrase, do good. Sting and Trudie, for many reasons are a couple I look up to. Their love of each other and humanity is humbling. Trudie's work to save the rainforests, indigenous populations and her work with UNICEF is inspiring. If it wasn't for Sting, I never would have been inspired to write my first play - and see it performed. His desire to educate through his music is what, for me, allows him to transcend the ranks of celebrity into humanitarian. The night was a celebration of positive actions to help better this world. I was astounded by the gifted Slater Jewell Kemker , the mind and soul behind the film An Inconvenient Youth. Her passion about global climate change has lead her to become a vocal and passionate spokesperson - at only 20 years old. She too was inspired by the works of Sting and Trudie Styler. Ndaba Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, was also on hand to lend praise along with the President and CEO of UNICEF to a couple who do more than just preach - they act. Raising millions for relief, assistance and awareness of many organizations, this couple demonstrates that you can use celebrity to make change. Immediately, when they walked into the room, the first thing you notice is that - this couple really, really, really loves one another. Their deep affection and respect for each other was even more appreciated when Sting stepped aside and Trudie read the speech for the night. Then the party began. If it wasn't enough knowing I would have a very private Sting concert, the fact that Nile Rodger, Chic and Sam Moore were performing brought perfection to the night. Hearing Sam Moore sing the song made famous by The Blues Brothers was just the beginning of some musical memories. Sting - began the night with Englishman in New York, tweaking the first line ever so slightly. Fields of Gold and Brand New Day took second and third songs. This man is in his 60s and sounds and looks incredible. And the whole time, his wife sat at the side of the stage, I swear, swooning over each word. Sam Moore joined Sting for an incredible Every Breath You Take and a surprising version of Bill Withers, Just the Two of Us. The night ending with some 70's classics, and of course, with We Are Family. The night was special to say the least. Yes, he's one of my favorite bassists and she is the reason why I began yoga, but try something for one second. Think of some celebrities - do they focus on making the world a better place for the future generations? Do they strive to empower those who have been given no chance to live? That is why I look to these two - this couple - as an inspiration. They inspire me to work that much harder to think about charity work and giving a voice to those who have none.

The clips I took are only about 30-60 seconds long...the music was just too good :)